Sacramento bans outdoor cultivation of medicinal marijuana

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento city leaders got an earful Tuesday night from medicinal marijuana advocates and others who said the plants have brought crime and other problems to their neighborhoods.

The Sacramento City Council voted to ban outdoor cultivation of medical marijuana after hearing from more than a dozen people who signed up to speak.

While some feared the ban would hurt poor patients, others called the law a good accommodation for all sides.

"They're going to absolutely stop me from getting medicine at all, and that's why I'm a little overwhelmed," said Sioux Colombe, who opposed the ordinance.

"In town, to grow in your backyard, the compromise has to be for sunlight to occur in a secure structure, and that is preserved under this ordinance," James Anthony said. "This is the best ordinance we've seen yet for personal use cultivation. Sacramento can make this work."

City leaders pointed out, some residents have also complained about a strong odor from the plants, which also prompted the move to ban outdoor medical pot grows in the city.